INHABITANT AROMAS from all parts of the world fill the Spicy spice shopOpen since 2013, the shop just off Santa Fe Plaza stocks a bewitching mix of more than 400 spices, seasonings and herbs. Bottles and bags line shelves on every wall. “We import, grind, mix and package everything ourselves,” says owner Kate Wheeler, who started at the original Savory Spice shop in Denver. A haven for anyone who cooks, bakes, grills or smokes, the shop offers rare finds like crushed Urfa chiles: an Old World variety from Turkey with smoky, earthy notes. New Mexican bizcochito spice – a blend of Madagascar vanilla beans, Ceylon cinnamon, anise and mace – is a bestseller, not only for baking New Mexico’s state cookie but also for stirring into coffee and cake mixes and sprinkling on toast and oatmeal. “I want to showcase flavors from all over the world,” says Wheeler. Although the store is only 200 square meters, a visitor can travel thousands of miles on a culinary odyssey. “We want to teach people about the spices and help them figure out how to use them,” says Wheeler. “You can smell and taste a spice to see what it is before you actually buy it.”

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